Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach

Ania A. Drzewiecka; Mona Azadian; Mariia Zolotova

Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach

Ania A. Drzewiecka, Mona Azadian, Mariia Zolotova

School of Textiles & Design

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary design project – Creating Change Through Design - involving undergraduate students from Heriot-Watt University’s Scottish Borders Campus (SBC) and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China. The initiative aimed to ideate design-led solutions for emerging economic challenges in China: youth unemployment, declining business and consumer confidence, a rapidly ageing society, and issues related to waste and pollution (Mark, 2024). Through a series of collaborative online workshops, students engaged in design thinking and systems thinking to co-create socio-economic opportunities. The project concluded with an interactive digital exhibition, which
contributed to the development of a global mindset, intercultural empathy, and employability skills among participants. This paper outlines the project’s conceptual framework, methodology, outcomes, and its alignment with Heriot-Watt University’s Strategic Plan (2025).

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 27 Jul 2025
Event	10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025 - Toronto, Canada Duration: 25 Jul 2025 → 27 Jul 2025 https://www.icrhs.org/

Conference

Conference	10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025
Abbreviated title	ICRHS 2025
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Toronto
Period	25/07/25 → 27/07/25
Internet address	https://www.icrhs.org/

Keywords

design-led learning
design thinking
cross-cultural collaboration
systems thinking
UN Sustainable Goal 4
UN Sustainable Goals 17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General
Communication
Education
Cultural Studies

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://www.dpublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/15-6644.pdf

Cite this

Drzewiecka, A. A., Azadian, M., & Zolotova, M. (2025). Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach. Paper presented at 10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. https://www.dpublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/15-6644.pdf

@conference{1687c10324664473b832cbc47c07a38a,

title = "Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach",

abstract = "This paper presents a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary design project – Creating Change Through Design - involving undergraduate students from Heriot-Watt University{\textquoteright}s Scottish Borders Campus (SBC) and Xi{\textquoteright}an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China. The initiative aimed to ideate design-led solutions for emerging economic challenges in China: youth unemployment, declining business and consumer confidence, a rapidly ageing society, and issues related to waste and pollution (Mark, 2024). Through a series of collaborative online workshops, students engaged in design thinking and systems thinking to co-create socio-economic opportunities. The project concluded with an interactive digital exhibition, which contributed to the development of a global mindset, intercultural empathy, and employability skills among participants. This paper outlines the project{\textquoteright}s conceptual framework, methodology, outcomes, and its alignment with Heriot-Watt University{\textquoteright}s Strategic Plan (2025).",

keywords = "design-led learning, design thinking, cross-cultural collaboration, systems thinking, UN Sustainable Goal 4, UN Sustainable Goals 17",

author = "Drzewiecka, \{Ania A.\} and Mona Azadian and Mariia Zolotova",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

day = "27",

language = "English",

note = "10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025, ICRHS 2025 ; Conference date: 25-07-2025 Through 27-07-2025",

url = "https://www.icrhs.org/",

}

Drzewiecka, AA, Azadian, M & Zolotova, M 2025, 'Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach', Paper presented at 10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025, Toronto, Canada, 25/07/25 - 27/07/25. <https://www.dpublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/15-6644.pdf>

Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach. / Drzewiecka, Ania A.; Azadian, Mona; Zolotova, Mariia.
2025. Paper presented at 10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

TY - CONF

T1 - Creating Change Through Design

T2 - 10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2025

AU - Drzewiecka, Ania A.

AU - Azadian, Mona

AU - Zolotova, Mariia

PY - 2025/7/27

Y1 - 2025/7/27

N2 - This paper presents a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary design project – Creating Change Through Design - involving undergraduate students from Heriot-Watt University’s Scottish Borders Campus (SBC) and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China. The initiative aimed to ideate design-led solutions for emerging economic challenges in China: youth unemployment, declining business and consumer confidence, a rapidly ageing society, and issues related to waste and pollution (Mark, 2024). Through a series of collaborative online workshops, students engaged in design thinking and systems thinking to co-create socio-economic opportunities. The project concluded with an interactive digital exhibition, which contributed to the development of a global mindset, intercultural empathy, and employability skills among participants. This paper outlines the project’s conceptual framework, methodology, outcomes, and its alignment with Heriot-Watt University’s Strategic Plan (2025).

AB - This paper presents a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary design project – Creating Change Through Design - involving undergraduate students from Heriot-Watt University’s Scottish Borders Campus (SBC) and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China. The initiative aimed to ideate design-led solutions for emerging economic challenges in China: youth unemployment, declining business and consumer confidence, a rapidly ageing society, and issues related to waste and pollution (Mark, 2024). Through a series of collaborative online workshops, students engaged in design thinking and systems thinking to co-create socio-economic opportunities. The project concluded with an interactive digital exhibition, which contributed to the development of a global mindset, intercultural empathy, and employability skills among participants. This paper outlines the project’s conceptual framework, methodology, outcomes, and its alignment with Heriot-Watt University’s Strategic Plan (2025).

KW - design-led learning

KW - design thinking

KW - cross-cultural collaboration

KW - systems thinking

KW - UN Sustainable Goal 4

KW - UN Sustainable Goals 17

UR - https://www.dpublication.com/proceeding/10th-icrhs/#Table-of-Contents

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 25 July 2025 through 27 July 2025

ER -

Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Students propose innovative design ideas for real-world challenges